Lake Elmo, MN · standard
ZIP Code 55042
Washington County, Minnesota - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,840
- 139/sq mi High-density area
- $154,341
- Median income Above-median income area
- $602,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 61.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lake Elmo pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 3%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 9%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 139
- people per sq mi
- 94%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 55042 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 55042 (Lake Elmo, MN) rose +7.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 201.3 in 2023 to 216.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 55042 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lake Elmo, Washington County, Minnesota, home to 8,840 residents across 63.4 square miles, a density of 139 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 55042 skews affluent, with a median household income of $154,341 (88% above the average Minnesota ZIP), while per-capita income is $77,247. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.6% and unemployment is 2.2%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $602,100 (135% above the average Minnesota ZIP), while 93.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,407.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 61.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.2, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Washington County, so 55042 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 55042
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Elmo, MN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 55042.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
74 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
53 establishments
- Construction
Construction
42 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
41 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 28
Real estate and rental and leasing
28 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 55042, Lake Elmo, MN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
8,840
Population
63.4
Area (sq mi)
139
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 55042?
41.2
Median Age
50.2%
Male
49.8%
Female
4.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$154,341
Median Household Income
+88% vs state ZIP avg
$77,247
Per Capita Income
4.6%
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Unemployment Rate
22.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 55042 ranks among Minnesota ZIPs
Lake Elmo, MN household income vs. every Minnesota ZIP code
Median household income among 864 reporting Minnesota ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$154,341 Top 1% higher than 99% of 864 Minnesota ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Minnesota ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
5,104housing units
5,104
Total Housing Units
4,921
Occupied Units
183
Vacant Units
2.78
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$602,100
Median Home Value
+135% vs state ZIP avg
$2,407
Median Rent
2003
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.6%
YoY Change (2024)
217
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+117%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 55042 have increased 7.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +117% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.7% | 159 |
| 2021 | +8.0% | 172 |
| 2022 | +13.7% | 196 |
| 2023 | +2.9% | 201 |
| 2024 | +7.6% | 217 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 375 business establishments in ZIP 55042, employing approximately 3,255 people with a combined annual payroll of $178,413,000.
375
Businesses
3,255
Employees
$178.4M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 74 | 19.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 53 | 14.1% |
| Construction | 42 | 11.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 41 | 10.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 28 | 7.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 27 | 7.2% |
| Retail trade | 23 | 6.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 20 | 5.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 18 | 4.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 16 | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 10 | 2.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.3% |
| Information | 4 | 1.1% |
| Educational services | 4 | 1.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 55042 vs 55128 →
ZIP 55042 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 55125
Saint Paul (55125)
43,281 residents
- 55119
Saint Paul (55119)
38,966 residents
- 55082
Stillwater (55082)
35,024 residents
- 55109
Saint Paul (55109)
31,444 residents
- 55128
Saint Paul (55128)
28,113 residents
- 55129
Saint Paul (55129)
18,697 residents
- 55042 8,840
Lake Elmo (55042)
8,840 residents
- 55115 8,607
Saint Paul (55115)
8,607 residents
- 55003 3,471
Bayport (55003)
3,471 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 55042 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 55042 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 55042
Lake Elmo (55042)
$154,341 median income
- 55129
Saint Paul (55129)
$143,795 median income
- 55001
Afton (55001)
$133,581 median income
- 55003
Bayport (55003)
$125,893 median income
- 55115
Saint Paul (55115)
$124,234 median income
- 55125
Saint Paul (55125)
$119,260 median income
- 55082
Stillwater (55082)
$115,040 median income
- 55128
Saint Paul (55128)
$93,210 median income
- 55109
Saint Paul (55109)
$86,776 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 55042 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55128 | Saint Paul, MN | 28,113 | 3.2 mi |
| 55129 | Saint Paul, MN | 18,697 | 6.8 mi |
| 55125 | Saint Paul, MN | 43,281 | 5.5 mi |
| 55090 | Willernie, MN | 401 | 5.1 mi |
| 55115 | Saint Paul, MN | 8,607 | 5.9 mi |
| 55082 | Stillwater, MN | 35,024 | 6.3 mi |
| 55003 | Bayport, MN | 3,471 | 6.0 mi |
| 55109 | Saint Paul, MN | 31,444 | 6.4 mi |
| 55119 | Saint Paul, MN | 38,966 | 6.6 mi |
| 55001 | Afton, MN | 2,916 | 7.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 55042, both outside MN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (8,840 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Washington County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 55042 in?
ZIP code 55042 (Lake Elmo) is located in Washington County, Minnesota. Washington County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/washington-mn.
What is the population of ZIP code 55042?
ZIP code 55042 in Lake Elmo, MN has a population of 8,840 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 55042?
The median household income in ZIP 55042 is $154,341, which is 102% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 55042?
The median home value in ZIP 55042 is $602,100, which is 116% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 55042?
The largest racial group in ZIP 55042 is White at 87.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 55042?
ZIP code 55042 has 375 business establishments employing approximately 3,255 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 55042?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 55042 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (74), Finance and insurance (53), Construction (42). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 55042?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 55042 increased by 7.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 117%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 55042?
In ZIP code 55042, 76.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 61.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 55042?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 55042 is 22.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 55042?
In ZIP code 55042, approximately 93.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 6.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 55042?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 55042 is 4.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 55042's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 55042 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lake Elmo, MN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.